Dan's deal earth-shaking

At the end of last year the national body opened talks with McCaw and Carter on the basis both men had indicated they were keen to stay on after the World Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Christchurch earthquake made him want to leave but some innovation and recognition from the NZRU and a pressure-releasing gambit from Richie McCaw-the next big name expected to stay-helped Dan Carter decide.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has pulled off what many thought would be impossible, especially when their opening salvo left both players disillusioned; and especially when Carter is understood to have been initially spooked by the Christchurch earthquake to the extent that the NZRU were convinced they had lost him - that it made his mind up to sign with an offshore club.

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, it is thought Carter was resolute for the only time prior to making his final decision - he was going to leave.

That the NZRU finally got their man last week brought to a close - McCaw is expected to sign his contract imminently- what has been an epic seven months of negotiation. At the end of last year the national body opened talks with McCaw and Carter on the basis both men had indicated they were keen to stay on after the World Cup. Given their standing and, in the case of Carter in particular, the inevitable level of offshore interest, both men were expecting to feel the love. If anything their importance to New Zealand will be even greater in 2012 than it will be in 2011.

The NZRU are believed originally to have offered two-year extensions at both players' existing rate of pay. Even McCaw, loyal to a fault and determined to stay, is said to have been miffed at the lack of innovation and thought that had gone into the initial offer.

When the national body then learned that Carter had already fielded offers from French clubs and Bath looking to pay him €1.2m a season, they woke up to the fact they were going to have to sharpen their act.

When they plonked such an unimaginative, limited contract in front of Carter they were fortunate he didn't sign with one of his many suitors there and then. In January, they had no chance of retaining Carter while McCaw was hardly in any rush to commit after he saw what he had been offered.

There needed to be some substance to the NZRU's rhetoric that they saw McCaw and Carter as once-in-a-lifetime players. They needed to make an offer that indisputably proved they weren't going to let either man leave. Carter was always the harder man to tie down. His situation was more complex. He had compelling reasons to leave. He's never hidden his love of France and, if he had signed with Racing Metro, in three years he could have earned in excess of $8m. It would have been the best paid OE in Kiwi history.

He could have gone from being a big fish in a small pond to being a big fish in a big pond - his professional life falling under significant but not such intense scrutiny and his personal life being of little interest to anyone. France carried big appeal.

Yet New Zealand always carried more. There were the not insignificant factors such as his fiancé's career and desire to stay to think about. There were his various endorsement and business ventures to consider and the knowledge that by staying he'd have a greater profile to cash in on once he retired.

But above all else there was his All Black legacy. He still loves playing test rugby. Would he always regret giving it up at just 29? He's won 79 caps; that number could sit at 91 by the end of the year.Would he feel content leaving it all behind so close to a magic century? Carter is driven by the thought of being a legendary All Black-of knowing in retirement that he was the player he thought he could be. We have seen many special performances already: he may already be the best first five New Zealand has ever produced. It goes against the prevailing mindset in New Zealand, where typically 30 has been seen as some mythical barrier; an arbitrary judge that a player is past it. But Carter could become a better player over the next four years.

The NZRU had to buy in to that vision and show Carter they shared his belief. That's why the four-year option was critical-it was a definitive statement that said they still saw Carter as a player with growth potential. The sabbatical options and the money merely confirmed that the NZRU were serious; that they genuinely believed that with some time off playing or time playing in another country, Carter could make it through to 2015. As he himself said thisweek: "It is inspiring to see guys like Brad Thorn and Tana Umaga playing footy at their age. It gives you confidence you can play decent footy at a good age."

The four-year deal with an unprecedented flexibility went an enormous way to letting Carter and McCaw both know they were wanted; that they were being recognised as invaluable. Once Carter felt less edgy about the quake and could see the NZRU were doing all they could, confidence grew that he would stay. But no one really knew. Not even Carter's agency always had a great sense on which way he was thinking.

"It wasn't easy because one day I felt I wanted to be going and the next I felt as if I wanted to stay-things like that. It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, these last six months," revealed Carter after signing.

When Racing Metro increased their offer in late March, the balance swung again. Everything kept coming back to that black jersey, however, and the knowledge that McCaw would be in it next year as would the likes of Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Jimmy Cowan and Conrad Smith.

"I have seen firsthand how hard it has been for Dan to make thisdecision and to balance the various issues he had to consider," said his agent Warren Alcock. "In the end, the one consistent factor for him has been the enjoyment and pride he gets from representing his country."

Having nearly lost Carter at the first hurdle and then again in the aftermath of the earthquake, the NZRUare believed to have been euphoric when the deal was actually signed. There was a big clue that Carter was all but there 10 days ago when Colin Slade signed a two-year extension with the Highlanders. The one-cap All Black had been tipped the nod that the Crusaders were unlikely to need him.

Still, no one dared believe until Carter announced: "Obviously when you are making a big decision like this there's a lot of speculation and talk and to have that put behind me is a relief and it's great to have security in my life; to know what I am doing for my future is fantastic.

"There were a few different reasons for signing but the underlying factor was the black jersey. If I went overseas I would not be able to wear the black jersey and that was a big reason for staying."

McCaw is expected to confirm he has signed in the next few weeks. It is thought he was reluctant to announce he's staying before Carter. The skipper was smart enough to realise that once he was locked in, media focus would shift to Carter and that his team-mate would be hounded as to whether he was going to follow suit; maybe increasing the likelihood of a shift.